Thursday, January 14, 2010

Court upholds DWI case dismissal

The state Supreme Court today upheld dismissal of a family's claim for damages against a Henderson State University fraternity that sponsored and charged admission to a Hot Spring County keg party in 2005. A drunk driver who'd been at the party caused a wreck that killed him and injured members of a family in another car. The injured family previously reached a settlement with the estate of the driver.

The Supreme Court affirmed that Arkansas law says a social host is not an Arkansas alcohol retailer and thus cannot be held liable for actions by a person legally able to possess alcohol who received drinks at its party. The court has held that alcohol retailers can be held liable for selling to minors or intoxicated persons.

M.L. King Day: The open lines and a roundup of headlines and comment.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has made several public appearances today as part of the observance of King Day and his remarks have included lauding the state's 2017 action (and his own) in ending the dual observance of King's birthday with that of a man who fought to preserve slavery, Robert E. Lee. I have one brief observation on his remarks:

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